THE MISSION

Cleft to lip

In my recent blog I had mentioned about our school’s, that is, Axel Public School’s, students club R.O.O.T.S (Reach out 4 ones to smile) which is associated to Operation Smile. And let me also mention that I am living in Guwahati which is in the state of Assam, in the north-eastern region of India. 

 On the 27^th of May, I come across a post on Facebook, stating that an International Mission would be held from 11^th to 18^th June in the Guwahati Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre, in short GC4, Operation Smile at Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH), and that students would be recruited as volunteers. Excitement flooded my body as soon as I saw this. Immediately I held a club meeting and all necessary arrangements were made, so as to R.O.O.T.S could participate in it. There have been missions before in India, but as we had begun R.O.O.T.S quite recently, this was the first ever mission that we had come across and we were all get set to take part in.

On 7^th of June a meeting was held in GC4, discussing the mission details. R.O.O.T.S itself had chosen fifteen members for working in this mission, but unfortunately the Mission Coordinators and Organizers needed only a few student volunteers from grade ten onwards. So me and my best friend Punam, decided on volunteering for this mission.

So what exactly happens in these missions?

11^th June, 2013

The above date is one of the most unforgettable days of my entire life. There was a sudden certain change in me. Punam and I reached GC4 at 6:45 a.m. as it was the first day of the mission and we had a lot of work to do. We had to wake up at 5:30 a.m. and that was an absolute absurdity being the late sleepers that we are. But once the mission kick started, there were no regrets or doubts whatsoever to why we were here at such a ridiculous time.

It was maybe the very first time that looking at a child had put a smile on my face. Yes, there were kids, tiny kids with cleft lips or cleft palates or even so both lip and palate. I normally don’t like kids, but the hopes and dreams in the eyes of these children were enough to make anybody poignant. Of course, not only kids were present but also a great number of adults were there. They came from remote and different parts of Assam and Meghalaya so that they could look at the mirror and “smile.” A smile is important, maybe some of you might not value it, but some are dying to have a glance of one self smiling.

In International Medical Missions as such, a team of Operation Smile- credentialed medical professionals from around the world travel to Operation Smile partner countries to treat children during a period of time. These missions include-

*physical examinations (screening)

*surgery

*post operative care

On the very first day there was the procedure of screening, that is the physical examinations. Punam and I were in charge of Medical Examination Records’ registration work. It was a very small role but the thing which mattered the most was the fact that we enjoyed ourselves and we had the chance to meet the wonderful kids with adorable dreamy eyes and also to meet a lot of new people from around the world.

Also for the first time in 15 years of living in Guwahati, I could feel a sense of enthusiasm and energy and oomph in the people.

We worked till 3:30 p.m. However, we were not tired. We wanted to work even more. Sadly, all work was done for the day and it was time when we bid adieu to that wonderful work atmosphere.

And the most amazing and astounding part of that day was that WE, that is, the International Mission Workers, had screened 130 patients on the very first day itself.